The Escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie

By Malcolm Seddon

This book describes the exciting adventures ofBonnie Prince Charlie over five months afterhis defeat at the battle of Culloden in 1746.On the run from his Hanoverian enemies, hedesperately sought a ship in which to escapefrom Scotland. In the process, he and a fewcompanions secretly trekked for five hundredmiles over remote mountainous areas of

• Language: English
• Publisher: Book Printing UK
• Release date: Nov 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911113669

Book preview

Map showing Charles’ total movements, 16 April - 20 September, 1746.

1

SETTING THE SCENE

Family tree showing the descendents of James I and VI

The Background

On 10 June, 1688, the second wife of King James II gave birth to a son, who automatically became the heir to the thrones of England and Scotland. As James was a Roman Catholic convert, the Protestants feared that this birth would lead to a Roman Catholic dynasty. They therefore brought about the ‘Glorious Revolution’, in which James was deposed. He fled to France on 11 December, 1688.

For the Protestants, the only acceptable successors among James’ children were the two Protestant daughters born to his first wife. Consequently, the succession went to the elder daughter, Mary, who ruled jointly with her husband, William of Orange.

Although James’ deposition had had popular support, he had allies remaining in Britain. These ‘Jacobites’ were strongest in the Catholic areas of Ireland and Scotland. In 1689, James rallied the Irish Jacobites in an attempt at counter-revolution. However, he was finally defeated at the Battle of the Boyne a year later. James spent the rest of his life in France. On his death in 1701, the Jacobites transferred their allegiance to James Edward, the son whose birth had precipitated the crisis in 1688.

After the deaths of William and Mary, James’ younger daughter, Anne, reigned from 1702 to 1714. As she died without leaving any living children, the crown left the House of Stewart for the House of Hanover. It went to George I, who, like James, was a great-grandson of James I, but in a different line of descent. On his death in 1727, the crown went to his son, George II.

From his residence in Rome, James took on his father’s mantle of trying to regain the British throne. In 1708, he persuaded the French to help him invade Scotland. However, the fleet was dispersed by the Royal Navy before any troops landed. One year after the Hanoverian succession, he instigated a rebellion in Lancashire and Scotland, but by February, 1716, it had petered out. In 1719, he tried again with Spanish mercenaries landing at Loch Duich in Wester Ross. After only a few days, this force was defeated in a brief skirmish at Glen Shiel, just six miles inland. On returning to Rome, James immediately married the Polish princess, Clementina Sobieska. On New Year’s Day, 1720, she gave birth to Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Silvester Severino Maria. This was ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’.

From that point, James and his family were under permanent surveillance by Hanoverian spies. Nevertheless, James maintained contact with the British Jacobites through secret correspondence. James knew very well that, if he were to make another attempt, he would need Britain’s other European enemies to support him. As before, his most obvious ally was France, where Louis XV made no secret of his desire to invade England. James had two agents permanently in Paris to keep open the channels of communication.

Back in Scotland, the Hanoverians took steps to prevent any more rebellions. In 1724, General Wade proposed the construction of forts to be used as bases for Independent Companies of Highland troops, loyal to the Hanoverian government. By 1740, he had completed Fort William, Fort Augustus and Fort George in the Great Glen, as well as Ruthven barracks at Kingussie. These military strongholds were connected to each other and to the south by a system of roads. One road ran the whole length of the Great Glen. Another climbed over the Corrieyairack Pass from Fort Augustus to Ruthven.

Despite these repressive measures, the Highland Jacobites remained active.

Furthermore, as the Hanoverian government became increasingly unpopular, the Jacobites grew in strength. In 1737, a mission of prominent Highland chiefs travelled to Rome, and informed James that many clans were ready to rise on his behalf. They urged him to mount another invasion.

‘Therefore in ye nem of God let it please your Majestie to consider the present Juncture and that tyme and opportunitie is not to be neglected.’

James assured them of his resolve to renew the campaign in the near future. The mission therefore returned to Scotland, where a Jacobite Association was set up to make preparations.

Once Charles was in his twenties, it was obvious that he, rather than his father, would lead the invasion. Moreover, the ‘Young Pretender’ was eager to have a go. The opportunity arrived in December, 1743, when Louis XV, decided to take advantage of a general war in Europe to invade England. When he informed James of his intention, Charles immediately made his way to Paris.

In March, 1744, the invasion was aborted, when two storms devastated the French fleet in the Channel. Despite this fiasco, Louis formally declared war on Britain, but prevaricated about preparing another invasion. For months, the only visible sign of war was a blockade of the French Channel ports by the British navy.

In August, 1744, Murray of Broughton, a member of the mission to Rome in 1737, visited Charles in Paris, and revealed that the Highland clans would raise 4,000 men, provided Charles brought a French army. Charles replied that he was determined to come to Scotland, ‘if he brought only a single footman’.

Exasperated with Louis’ dithering, Charles now decided to ‘go it alone’. With a few friends, he made secret plans to take arms and mercenaries to the West Highlands. From the information he had received, he was confident that he would immediately muster the Camerons, MacPhersons, MacGregors, Appin Stewarts, and MacLeods, together with the MacDonalds of Sleat, Glengarry, Glencoe and Clanranald. He hoped that, once other clans realised the strength of his support, they would also join the invasion of England. There, he hoped to rally the English Jacobites as well, and drive George II from London.

Charles sent a message conveying his intentions to the Highland chiefs, and raised money from a group of very rich emigre Jacobites. One of them, Antoine Walsh, masterminded the whole enterprise, and provided a 16-gun privateer frigate, La du Teillay. Another Jacobite, Walter Ruttledge, hired a 64-gun man-of-war, Elisabeth, together with 700 soldiers from an Irish regiment in the service of France. On 22 June, 1745, the expedition left St Nazaire with Charles and Walsh in La du Teillay.

Some days later, they encountered HMS Lion in the Atlantic. In the ensuing battle, the Elisabeth was so badly damaged that she was forced to return to France, taking most of the arms and all the troops with her. Despite this setback, Charles insisted on continuing to Scotland. On 23 July, he landed on the island of Eriskay. The very next day, he began contacting the chiefs who had already committed themselves to his cause.

The following story is about the relationships that developed. To understand what happened, it will be helpful to learn more about the Prince and the clans.

The Prince

Charles’ early years were overshadowed by the bitter rift that separated his parents soon after he was five. For years, the couple lived apart. During this time, Charles and his younger brother, Henry, were brought up under the oppressive regime prescribed by his austere, ascetic father.

Although Charles became proficient in English, French, Spanish and Italian, he was not a good student. He was intelligent, but, much to his father’s exasperation, Charles did not apply himself to his studies. Neither did he have much interest in religion. Henry, however, was a natural scholar. Despite being five years younger, than his brother, he eventually overtook Charles academically. Henry also became a very devout Catholic. As a consequence, Henry was James’ favourite, while Charles had to suffer frequent shows of paternal disapproval.

In reaction, Charles became the archetypal rebellious child, clashing frequently with his father and other figures of authority. His attitude and behaviour were exacerbated by the influence of one his tutors, Sir Thomas Sheridan, who indulged the wilfulness and obstinacy of the student prince.

In contrast to his limited academic achievements, Charles showed a precocious aptitude for outdoor pursuits and social skills. At a very early age, he became expert in riding, hunting, shooting and golf. He also learned to dance, and play the cello very well. Despite the tensions and strife of his family life, Charles’ public persona was mature and confident. Even as a teenager, his conversation was engaging, considerate and thoughtful. On formal occasions, his charismatic charm impressed everyone he met.

After the death of his mother in 1735, Charles gradually broke away from his father’s repressive influence. He devoted himself almost entirely to hunting. Obsessed with achieving physical fitness, he continually sought the challenges of the most difficult terrain, and weather conditions. In this way, he developed great determination, drive, willpower, and self-confidence. Once in his twenties, this tall dashing young man with brown eyes, reddish hair and a delicate complexion was Prince Charming personified.

Prince Charles Edward Stuart

‘But which shines most in him and renders him, without exception, the most surprisingly handsome person of the age, is the dignity which accompanies every gesture.’

The Clans

The clan system was based on the traditional belief that all members of one clan were descended from a common forebear. As a consequence, every member of the clan had the same surname. The names of clan chiefs and their lieutenants, - known as ‘cadets’ or ‘tacksmen’ - always included the name of a place. In practice, this place name was the sole means by which such a man was known. Ewan MacPherson of Cluny, was known simply as ‘Cluny’. Aeneas MacDonald of Borrodale was just called ‘Borrodale’. Although it is usually clear from the context whether a name refers to the place or a man, this book uses a simple typographical device to lessen the chance of confusion.

The territories of some clans

When referring to places with names that include words such as ‘Loch’ or ‘Glen’, initial letters for the name of the loch or glen are printed in the upper case. The lower case is used when referring to people. Thus,Glen Aladale refers to the place, whereas Glenaladale refers to the man.

When a son of a chief or tacksman reached an age where he would begin to take a part in the chief’s business, the epithets ‘Young’ and ‘Old’ were used to distinguish the two men. Old Clanranald was the chief. Young Clanranald was his son.

In practice, the great distances from London, and the lack of any roads, made it very difficult for the Hanoverian government to control the Highlands and Islands. The real power was in the hands of the chiefs. A chief could summon any of his clansmen to fight on the clan’s behalf. Depending on the size of the clan, the chiefs could muster 200 - 2,500 men. Any clansman, who disobeyed this call, had the roof of his house set on fire.

Each chief let houses and land to his clansfolk. Rent was always paid in kind, such as oats, barley and cattle. Some clansmen, called ‘boomen’, worked with the chief in a profit-sharing arrangement.

The principal clans of MacDonald and their cadets

In general, there was insufficient land for the needs of all the clansfolk. The land was always of very poor quality both for cultivating crops and grazing cattle.

The difficulties were made even worse by the harsh weather that frequently destroyed or blighted harvests. After paying rent, clansfolk usually retained insufficient oats and barley to eat, let alone sell. Bread was available only in spring. The clansfolk therefore lived at starvation level on a diet of milk, whey, butter, and cheese. Common people rarely ate meat, but, in desperation, they would resort to drinking the blood of cattle.

A typical cottage reconstructed on Skye

Their houses were crude cottages or ‘bothies’. Although the style and structure varied from place to place, they all had low stone walls, and turfed or thatched roofs, that leaked badly on to the bare earth floors. Many bothies had only a single dimly lit room, that might be shared with cattle. Often, the ceiling was too low for an adult to stand erect. An open peat fire in the middle of the floor filled the room with smoke, that eventually escaped through a hole in the roof. In summer, when the clansfolk took their cattle to remote grazing lands or ‘shielings’, they occupied even more primitive shiely huts, built from whatever materials could be found locally.

Being in receipt of rent from the common people, chiefs had more than sufficient to feed their families and entertain their guests. However, the geographical remoteness of their lands made it very difficult to sell their crops and cattle in the cities. As a consequence, most of the gentry were not rich in terms of cash.

Only a few chiefs, such as Cameron of Lochiel and MacPherson of Cluny, were sufficiently wealthy to have grand houses or castles. Many chiefs lived in houses only slightly superior to those of the common folk. Nevertheless, they would have four or five servants.

While the lowly folk spoke only Erse, the eighteenth century version of Gaelic, the gentry were well educated. They could speak English and French, and learned Latin and Greek at foreign universities.

Highland dress

The most common form of day-to-day dress for all classes was the plaid, or long tartan blanket. Men would wind one end round the waist as a kilt, and use the other as a shawl. Women would wear it wrapped loosely round the head and body. For common folk, the plaid was made of coarse homespun worsted.

The gentry had plaids of finer material. As alternatives, they wore more fashionable items made by travelling tailors. For example, men wore brightly coloured tight-fitting trews, waistcoats, and bonnets adorned with an eagle’s feather. They also had short kilts or ‘philibegs’ worn with long stockings up to the knee. Ladies wore dresses.

Despite the wretchedness of their lot, the clansfolk, high and low, had an all-pervading sense of honour. The swearing of an oath on a drawn dirk made a commitment that could not be broken without incurring total disgrace. This underlying spirit was reflected in the strong bond of loyalty that the common people had to their chief. In their eyes, his main duty was to uphold and defend the honour of the clan.

The Story

24 July - 5 December

The various movements between 24 July and 5 December.

Charles’ first visitor on Eriskay was Alexander MacDonald of Boisdale, who came over from South Uist. Boisdale brought the news that the two mighty chiefs on Skye, Sir Alexander MacDonald of Sleat and the Laird of MacLeod, now refused to ‘come out’ because Charles had not brought any French troops.

‘Every body was strock as with a thunder boult, as you may believe, to hear yt sentence.’

When Boisdale suggested that Charles should return home, Charles replied, ‘I am come home, sir, and I will entertain no notion at all of returning to that place from whence I came; for I am persuaded my faithful Highlanders will stand by me.’

Undaunted, Charles sailed for the mainland, and, wearing Highland dress, disembarked with seven companions and just £4,000 at Loch nan Uamh* in Moidart. These ‘Seven Men of Moidart’ included the ageing Sir Thomas Sheridan, and Colonel John O’Sullivan, who was the military adviser.

* Pronunciation: lokh nan oo-av Translation: lake of caves’

Charles now summoned the local and more distant chiefs to join his cause. Initially, most of them were reluctant to do so. However, Charles persisted, and, using his charisma and charm, eventually convinced many that the French were likely to invade Britain, as soon as the clans were seen to be in serious revolt.

For a few days, the issue hung in the balance. Charles eventually recruited the Clanranald MacDonalds of Borrodale, Glen Aladale, Kinlochmoidart and Morar.

He was also joined by Young Clanranald, who in the dotage of his father, was the effective head of the Clanranald MacDonalds. Cameron of Lochiel (‘Gentle Lochiel’) - threw in his lot after Charles promised full security for the Cameron estates, that would certainly be forfeited, if the rebellion failed. Murray of Broughton became Charles’ secretary.

On 4 August, Charles was confident enough to send Walsh back to France with the ship. Charles himself took up residence in Borrodale House, the home of Aeneas MacDonald. After raising his standard at Glen Finnan on 19 August, Charles began the march south with his embryo army of 1,700 men. In Badenoch, he recruited Ewan MacPherson of Cluny, who was an officer in the Hanoverian army. Cluny had to be kidnapped, and agreed to join the rebels only after being promised the same security already given to his cousin, Lochiel.

Loch nan Uamh near Borrodale

The Hanoverian government, having been aware of Charles’ arrival for some time, offered a reward of £30,000 for his arrest. General Cope was sent with a force of raw recruits to destroy Charles’ army. However, instead of joining battle at the Corrieyairack Pass on 28 August, Cope retreated to Inverness. One month later, Charles defeated Cope in a battle at Prestonpans, just east of Edinburgh. He then marched into Edinburgh, where, capitalising on his enthusiastic reception, he raised almost a whole regiment from the local population.

On learning of Charles’ victory and capture of Edinburgh, more clans came down from the Highlands to join him. Even Sir Alexander MacDonald decided to send 900 men. However, he was blackmailed into changing his mind, when the Lord President, Duncan Forbes, threatened to expose him for deporting some clansfolk to the colonies.

Flushed with success, Charles now crossed the border. By the beginning of December, the army of 5,500 had reached Derby without meeting any opposition.

When news of Charles’ progress reached France, Louis issued a formal proclamation of support. Louis also decided to invade the south coast of England. News of Louis’ intentions was conveyed to Charles in England, and to James in Rome.

Immediately, Charles’ brother, Henry, set off from Rome to take part in the invasion.